On my way to Oxford for academic updating

Today I travel from Stavanger, Norway to Oxford, UK, with a stop on the way in London, where I have met with Professor Paul Cobley (Middlesex University). Right now I am on the train from London Paddington towards Oxford. In Oxford I plan to attend 6 academic events the next four days, including 3 classes/lectures offered by the Faculty of Philosophy at University of Oxford, and 3 more academic events.

Statutes of the Annual Biosemiotic Achievement Award finalized

A few days ago, on October 1st, the other Editors-in-Chief of Biosemiotics (Alexei Sharov and Timo Maran) and myself finalized the statutes of a new biosemiotic prize, previously called "The Biosemiotic Discovery Prize" (see previous posts), after having received suggestions this summer from participants at the 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4th 2014). The final name of the title is "The Annual Biosemiotic Achievement Award". The prize statutes have been distributed to members of the editorial board of Biosemiotics and to the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS), and will shortly appear online.

New Scientist visiting gathering in biosemiotics

Two journalists from New Scientist visited the recent 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4 2014). As far as I can tell, however, no article has appeared yet.

ISBS annual meeting attended; annual biosemiotic prize to be launched - details to be worked out

On Thursday July 3rd, during the 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, 30th of June to 4th of July), I attended the annual meeting of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS). 

Among the topics were the proposed "Biosemiotic Discovery Prize" - a draft of the statutes for this prize, composed by Timo Maran, Alexei Sharov and myself (and language edited by Paul Cobley), was presented at the ISBS annual meeting and at the preceding panel presentation of the journal Biosemiotics. Different concerns were raised. At the annual meeting it was decided, on the suggestion of Jesper Hoffmeyer (the ISBS President), that the three mentioned Editors-in-Chief of Biosemiotics will invite the GiB14 participants to suggest changes in the prize statutes, and then decide on the final version of the statutes. We are currently in the process of receiving such suggestions.

See also:

Biosemiotics journal presented at gathering in London

15th Gathering in biosemiotics to be held in Copenhagen

Meeting of editorial board of Biosemiotics attended

On Thursday July 3rd, during the 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, 30th of June to 4th of July), I attended the first in-person meeting of the editorial board of the journal Biosemiotics, for which I am one of three Editors-in-Chief. The meeting was chaired by Alexei Sharov.

Descartes paper presented in London

On Thursday July 3rd I presented my paper "Descartes’ dualisms and the epistemology of biosemiotics" at the 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4), in a session chaired by Jesper Hoffmeyer and also involving a paper by John Deely. Some 25-30 people (?) attended.

Session with Vehkavaara paper chaired

Today I chaired a session of the ongoing 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, June 30 - July 4). The session, which was also supposed to include a paper by Paul Thibault, involved Tommi Vehkavaara's paper "The interplay og cognitive and action-guiding signs in intelligent animals", which was substantially discussed.

See also:

Change of chairing plans

To chair session at 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics, London

Participation in roundtable on agency

Today I participated in a roundtable on agency chaired by Kalevi Kull at the ongoing 14th Gathering in biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4). In addition to Alexei Sharov and me, Jesper Hoffmeyer and Don Favareau were also participating. The roundtable lasted for one and a half hour, and included a 15 minute presentation by me.

See also:

To participate in roundtable on agency at GiB14

Change of chairing plans

There's been som changes in the programme for the ongoing 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4). While I was originally scheduled for chairing today, Tuesday 1st of July, I am now instead scheduled for chairing a session on Wednesday July 2nd - at 11.30 to 12.50. Also, there's been a change of papers included in the session.

See also:

To chair session at 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics, London

To participate in roundtable on agency at GiB14

Today I have agreed to participate in a roundtable on agency chaired by Kalevi Kull tomorrow Tuesday July 1st at 11.30-12.50 at the ongoing 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, June 30 - July 4), along with him and Alexei Sharov. I will first of all present findings in the first survey in the biosemiotic community conducted in preparation of the first review article in the biosemiotic glossary project.

Descartes paper scheduled for presentation at 14th Gathering in biosemiotics (London)

My forthcoming presentation "Descartes’ dualisms and the epistemology of biosemiotics", to be given at the 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics (London June 30 - July 4), has been scheduled for presentation on Thursday July 3rd at 12.10-12.50, in a session chaired by Jesper Hoffmeyer and also including a presentation by John Deely.

See also:

Abstract for London gathering in biosemiotics: "Descartes’ dualisms and theepistemology of biosemiotics"

Descartes paper accepted for presentation at 14th Gathering in biosemiotics (London)

Biosemiotics: Journal presentation and editorial board meeting scheduled at 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics

A presentation of the journal Biosemiotics has been scheduled to take place at the 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, June 30 - July 4th), on Thursday July 3rd from 2 pm. There will furthermore be a meeting of the editorial board the same afternoon, after the annual meeting of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS). I will play a role at both of these occasions, along with fellow Editors-in-Chief Alexei Sharov and Timo Maran, and also Izabela Witkowska, Springer's Associate Editor for Ecology and Conservation, who will be visiting the conference.

To chair session at 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics, London

I have agreed to chair a session at the 14th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (London, June 30 - July 4th), on Tuesday July 1st from 11.30 to 12.50.

Descartes paper accepted for presentation at 14th Gathering in biosemiotics (London)

Today I got to know that my paper "Descartes’ dualisms and the epistemology of biosemiotics" has been accepted for presentation at the 14th gathering in biosemiotics, which will take place in London June 30th - July 4th.

CFP: Gathering in biosemiotics 14 (London)

This first Call For Papers has recently been distributed by email. To my knowledge there is no event website yet.

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Gatherings in Biosemiotics 14

Middlesex University, London (UK), 30 June – 4 July 2014.

The Fourteenth Annual Gathering in Biosemiotics will be held in London from 30 June to 4 July 2014, under the auspices of Middlesex University in collaboration with the International Society of Biosemiotic Studies. The aim of the gathering is to provide scholars and researchers in various academic disciplines with a common platform to discuss the roles played by signs and communication in life processes.

The Scientific Advisory Committee of the 14th Gathering in Biosemiotics invites scholars and researchers from all over the world to submit their abstracts of presentations which are primarily centred on the roles and the significance of signs in life processes. Favoured abstracts will

• contribute to and elaborate biosemiotics
• be up-to-date regarding theory, methods and data, and
• demonstrate understanding of, and refer to, existing works in the field.

Abstracts should be 300-600 words, typed using a standard word processing format (using Times New Roman 12 point font, and setting the page size for A4). Abstracts should be submitted as single page files to the following address:abstracts2014 [a] biosemiotics.org to be received by no later than 14 March 2013. Please name the abstract file with the author’s (your) surname in capital letters, for instance SEBEOK.doc.

For early registration and any additional information, please contact p.cobley [a] mdx.ac.uk.